In Senegal’s Saint-Louis region, the BioStar project is addressing significant energy challenges faced by the rice processing industry. High electricity consumption, reliance on imported fossil fuels, and an unstable power grid have historically inflated production costs for rice husking units. To combat this, BioStar has implemented a biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More power plant at the Db foods facility in Ross Béthio, marking a decisive move towards renewable energy and greater energy autonomy for local agri-food businesses.

The system utilizes gasificationGasification is a high-temperature, thermochemical process that converts carbon-based materials into a gaseous fuel called syngas and solid by-products. It takes place in an oxygen-deficient environment at temperatures typically above 750°C. Unlike combustion, which fully burns material to produce heat and carbon dioxide (CO2​), gasification More to convert rice husks, a residual byproduct of the milling process, into a reliable source of energy. The plant consumes 250 kg of rice husks per hour to generate a net 85 kW of electricity, which is sufficient to power a processing line capable of handling two tonnes of paddy rice per hour. This process also yields a valuable co-product: biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More. An estimated 80 to 100 kg of rice husk biochar is produced each hour, offering a new opportunity for economic diversification through its use as a soil amendmentA soil amendment is any material added to the soil to enhance its physical or chemical properties, improving its suitability for plant growth. Biochar is considered a soil amendment as it can improve soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity.   More to improve agricultural land.

The economic impact is substantial, with the new plant reducing energy-related expenditures by 80% to 95%. According to Momar Ba, Director of Db Foods, these savings enhance the competitiveness of the local rice sector by allowing the company to offer lower-cost milling services to producers and traders, with benefits passed on to consumers. There is also potential to inject surplus energy into the national grid.

As project coordinator Joël Blin explained, this initiative is part of BioStar’s broader mission to promote bioenergy solutions for small and medium-sized agro-processing enterprises across West Africa. The program, which also operates in the cashew, peanut, and mango sectors, focuses on valorizing agricultural residues to provide businesses with a secure, renewable, and carbon-neutral energy source, fostering both economic and environmental resilience.

SOURCE: Saint-Louis – Utilisation des énergies renouvelables dans la filière riz pour réduire les coûts …